In a lengthy open letter on his blog, Kerala’s Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has seemingly reached out to the daughters of a recently arrested Maoist couple, and also used the opportunity to ask Maoists to join the “mainstream”.
In avuncular fashion, Chennithala has addressed the daughters of jailed Maoist couple Roopesh and Shyna on July 3, saying that he understood the pain of the two teenagers, Ami (19) and Savera (12).
I would like to talk about two poor girls Ami and Savera, daughters of Maoist leaders Roopesh and Shyna. With lots of love and care I say that I am extremely sad as those kids do not get enough love or care from their parents at this age.
– Chennithala, Home Minister of Kerala
An Appeal to Join the ‘Mainstream’
Ami is said to be supportive of her parents, and is seven years older than Savera.
In an interview with Open magazine close to four years ago, Ami had said:
The police kept coming regularly for a week and questioning me. Two days after this incident, Savera came back. They questioned her too. They told her that they would shoot papa. Savera was scared and crying. I watched helplessly. They shouted at my grandma and asked her why she could not give poison to both of us and kill herself.
– Ami, daughter of the Maoist couple to Open
Chennithala urged the siblings to not follow in their parents’ footsteps.
I know that you are not responsible in any way for the wrong path your parents chose. Your lives should not be affected because of your parents’ activities.The path of arms and violence won’t take you anywhere. There will be many to misguide you and glorify your parent’s ideology, but you should not opt it, should not follow them. Not destruction, but construction is the great activity; not hatred, love is our duty.
– Chennithala, Home Minister of Kerala
Chennithala also told them that the arrest of their parents had contributed greatly to the weakening of Maoist organisations in Kerala and was welcomed by a majority in the state. Chennithala assured the sisters that the government was looking for peaceful ways, and also urged Maoists to withdraw from “anti-national activities”.
Actor Criticises The Letter
Meanwhile, actor Joy Mathew has come down heavily on Chennithala for writing the letter. Mathew told Asianet News that for someone who followed the legacy of those ‘who killed engineering student Rajan during the Emergency’, Chennithala doesn’t have any right to advise Roopesh’s daughters Ami and Savera.
Roopesh’s daughters are able to think and act; they are brilliant and Home Minister should think that whether he is apt to advice those intelligent kids.
– Joy Mathew, Actor
Mathew, in a further harsh rejoinder, declared that it was not Ami and Savera who needed advice, but the children of Congress leaders. The actor has previously criticised Chennithala’s political motive behind becoming Home Minister.
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